Guiding Alice Chapter One By Alice Liddell


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Depths of Desire
Chapter Three
By Carolyn Faulker
© copyright 2007 By Carolyn Faulkner and ABCD Webmasters








Raphael Black was born into a privileged family
in the South – despite the fact that he had what was considered
to be a disgraceful amount of Indian blood flowing through his veins.
He really should have been born to someone like Cochise, since he
is lineage was Apache, but instead he ended up in the middle of
a genteel Georgia family with roots back to some of the kings and
queens of England and France. His full name was Raphael Luis Conrad
Black – his mother was from the wealthy Conrad family out of Boston,
and his father was . . . well, his father was not nearly so well
connected as far as society was concerned. But Angel Black – who
was often referred to by the reversal of his name – Black Angel
– was at least as proud of his own heritage as his wife was of hers,
trotting out the fact that one of his grandfathers was a full blooded
Apache warrior in the middle of a stuffy dinner party, just to see
the shocked looks on his guests’ faces. The way his wife would shake
her head and frown prettily at him in complete consternation was
the icing on that particular cake because he so enjoyed needling
her about having married down.

Angel’s ancestors might not have been quite as illustrious as his
dainty wife, Marguerite’s, but he had certainly done well for himself.
His fingers were in a lot of pies now, but he’d made his money in
the railroads. Although he was not nearly so well off when they
married, he was determined to keep Margie – a nickname her parents
loudly despaired of – in the manner to which she was accustomed,
and had managed to exceed his expectations in a matter of a few
years.

When Raphael came along, the Blacks were already set for life, and
he was born in a huge classic colonial style mansion that Angel
had had to drive his workers like slaves to get finished so that
they could move into it before he was born. He had the proverbial
silver spoon, but was educated in areas that most men of his age
and privileged status weren’t necessarily – his father taught Rafe
was his father had taught him: how to track and hunt and survive
in the wilderness, how to shoot and ride like he was born with guns
blazing at a full gallop.

Angel certainly hadn’t considered that his beloved son would end
up like this.

Mary Rose was trying to keep from having hysterics. A nearly naked,
strange man – a known killer – was lying on top of her. There was
nothing between them but her clothes and his union suit, and that
wasn’t anywhere near enough for her comfort. He was so big he completely
dwarfed her, and she was having a hard time drawing a full breath.
But, despite her bone-deep fear, she repeated her statement in a
smaller, less firm tone this time. �śI want to go to my room.”

Rafe’s lip drew into a grim line that had her eyes going wide. �śLady,
if you set one foot outside that door, do you think that Hernandez
and Toze are going to hesitate to grab you?”

It was plain on her crestfallen face that she hadn’t thought that
far ahead. All she was trying to do was get away from him. It was
literally the only thing in her mind, beyond stark terror.

Oh, God, she was wiggling beneath him. He couldn’t stop himself
from arching forwards into her, the nearly unfettered ridge of his
manhood blindly, rhythmically seeking the warmth between her legs.

Mary Rose had no idea what he was trying to do, but it didn’t seem
proper in the least. Although she was fairly well immobilized, she
glanced at the bedside table and noticed a silver letter opener.
Without a second thought to the possible consequences of her actions,
she grabbed it and began to raise her arm as high as she could to
stab him in the back.

But Rafe had spent too much time sleeping with one eye open to fall
for something like that. Almost carelessly, he used his left wrist
to knock the makeshift blade out of her hand, sending it skittering
across the room, now well out of reach. Within seconds, Mary Rose
found herself lifted up and over his lap, her bottom presented obscenely
in the air like some naughty schoolgirl’s – not that she would have
known; Mary Rose had been extremely well behaved in school at just
the thought of the cane. His muscular legs were hard and unyielding
beneath her as she struggled to get away from him.

Rafe had to hand it to her – she certainly was resourceful. But
he wasn’t about to let her get away with behavior like that. He
couldn’t – not in this situation. So he wrapped his left arm around
her waist, dragging her tight up against him. She wasn’t going anywhere
until he was finished with her. With his right hand, he found the
hem of her skirt and pulled it up and over her back, exposing her
frilly white bloomers.

No one had ever seen Mary Rose’s knickers. Even her doctor examined
her through her dress – why, he never even asked her to unbutton
it! It was just not done. Yet this ruffian had manhandled her over
his lap and lifted her skirt as if there as nothing to it! She began
to struggle with all her might, not that it got her anywhere. He
just took a better hold of her and rendered her completely immobile.


�śThat was not a smart move, little missy. Not smart at all,” he
was lecturing in that deep, threatening voice of his. �śNow, not
only are you going to share this bed with me, but you’re going to
have a sore bottom to boot.” With that pronouncement, he lowered
her knickers.

Mary Rose’s face turned beet red and she renewed her struggles,
but she quickly realized how futile her efforts were. What was worse
was that she felt his rough fingers slipping into the waistband
of her bloomers, felt them slowly, inexorably being lowered to just
beneath her bottom. Her scream of outrage surprised him, although
it shouldn’t have, but he held her still as she bucked and writhed
and twisted herself back and forth – all within the confines of
that damned strong arm of his.

But Rafe was getting darned sick of having to hold her still. His
arm was beginning to hurt. Luckily – but not for her – he knew how
to get her to cut it out, lickety-split.

Thwack! Her struggles ceased immediately, her body becoming rigid
as a board as the sting of that one swat sank into her flesh and
her brain. �śTake your filthy hands off me, you – you outlaw!!!”
Mary Rose had never felt such a murderous rage. Generally, she was
a very easy going sort. But this man, who had barged into her place
of business brandishing a gun and had essentially taken her hostage
just by virtue of lying on top of her, was going to drive her crazy
with fear, yes, as well as sheer indignation.

Another hard swat imprinted itself on her flour white rump. �śMy
hands are cleaner than Hernandez and Toze’s. Would you prefer that
I bring you down to them? Would you like to join that particular
party?”

Her lips clamped tightly shut, but the shudder he felt run through
her body was answer enough. �śWhat exactly do you think is going
to happen if you go wandering around the inn? That they’re just
going to ignore your temptations?”

Mary Rose frowned – she’d never thought of herself as a particularly
enticing woman. Most men didn’t like her – of course, that might
have had a lot to do with the way she and Uncle Shep manipulated
them when they tried to date her . . .

�śHernandez, especially. He wants you, woman, and I’m the only one
who can keep you safe from him.” He was angry – she could tell by
the way his breath bellowed down on her. �śDo you think that he would
have waited any more than five seconds after you got into this room
before he had you naked beneath him?”

Mary Rose gulped hard. She didn’t want to feel grateful to this
brute, just because he was saving her from another brute. But she
had to agree, he appeared to be the lesser of the two evils in some
ways.

�śAnswer me!”

�śN-no,” came the tentative, obviously reluctant reply.

�śDamn straight I’m right. And what do I get as a reward for my efforts?”

Her blush burned even brighter as he painted her as some sort of
ingrate.

�śI nearly get stabbed in the back.” Rafe adjusted her on his lap
so that her bottom was raised obscenely high, then accented his
statement with six sharp slaps that resounded nearly as much as
her out and out shrieks.

She hadn’t been spanked since she was a very young girl. Mary Rose
had learned early that she didn’t like being spanked, so she either
behaved as she knew she was supposed to, or made sure that whatever
she did that her Father would consider wrong wasn’t discovered by
either of her parents.

But to be bare bottomed over this scoundrel’s lap was unimaginably
shameful. Even her father had had the decency to spank her over
her undies – over her skirt more often than that. Her father had
some propriety.

Mary Rose had to shake her head at herself. How could she be thinking
that this man would even know what the word meant? When he began
to spank her in earnest, she was sure that he didn’t know how to
do anything beyond hurt and humiliate women, because he was certainly
doing the both to her now.

His huge hand felt like a plank of wood whenever it connected with
that tender, never-before-touched flesh. �śStop – this – right –
now!” she was barely able to get out between squeals and wails.

�śHoney, I’m just gettin’ started,” he replied, stepping up the pace,
cracking his hand down in a flurry of hot, peppered swats.

She had forgotten how much a spanking hurt – although she would
hazard a guess that her father had never spanked her this hard,
regardless of the provocation. Although she tried not to give into
the impulse, Mary Rose ended up throwing her head back and giving
vent to her deep frustration and pain by letting go with a full-throated
scream fit to bring the house down.

It didn’t faze the oaf that held her in the least. He continued
to brighten that beautiful bottom with open handed smacks that set
it to wobbling beneath the impact. Rafe did interject with complete
calm, �śYou might not want to do that again, unless you want to set
your friend to worrying about how you’re faring up here.”

Mary Rose’s mouth clamped shut immediately, and through the remainder
of the spanking she emitted nothing but the occasional grunt or
moan, although it was killing her not to let loose with a stream
of invectives at the top of her lungs, aimed squarely at her captor.


He used his palm to emphasize the last couple words of his lecture.
�śSince I’m the one putting himself in harm’s way to keep you safe,
I expect that you’re going to obey me and do exactly what I tell
you to do. And you’re most certainly never going to raise your hand
to me again. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”

She was too busy grinding her teeth together to answer him, choking
back sobs and screams and a very lethal rage.

Five more sharp cracks rang out in the almost silence of the room.
�śAre you listening to me?”

�śY – yes, I am,” she nearly yelled at him after gulping in a breath
of air quickly, her bottom stinging abominably, especially from
that last volley. She desperately wanted to reach back and rub the
assaulted area, but her left arm was prevented from doing much by
his muscular bulk. Her right wrist was held maddeningly close to
her rear, but, despite repeated attempts to do so, she could not
break his hold on her.

�śWell?”

Mary Rose had never hated anyone in her life. She disliked some
people – few people could go through life without finding someone
they simply could not abide. But when she had found someone like
that, she had simply sought to avoid the person, and therefore preventing
herself from being annoyed. But it was a little hard to avoid this
man, and she had definitely developed a distinct distaste for him.

�śWell what?” she snapped back, wishing she could find a part of
him that would be vulnerable to an attack by her snapping teeth.

�śDo I need to send you to go find my belt?” It wasn’t a threat;
it was a promise, delivered in a deliberately soft, almost gentle
voice. But she also knew from that tone that he wouldn’t hesitate
a second to have her do exactly that, and then he’d use the awful
thing on her already tenderized nates.

�śNo! No! I’ll do anything you say, I will!” Mary Rose’s heart sank
into her already churning stomach. What had she just agreed to?
Why couldn’t she be stronger and spit in his face before she acquiesced?
Why was she such a weakling?

He hadn’t let her go immediately, as she’d expected. Instead he
sat stock still, and she knew – she just knew – that he was staring
down at her derriere. The letch!

She was right. Rafe was staring down at that rosy pink perfection
and it was all he could do not to drool on her. As it was, he couldn’t
keep himself from using the very same hand that had pinkened it
to caress it slowly and gently, which set her to wiggling and twisting
almost as badly as the swats had.

As he rubbed her casually, as if he had every right to touch her
in such a familiar manner, Mary Rose tried to keep it in her mind
that it was better him than either of the others. But that was cold
comfort, indeed.

Rafe was finding himself a little too involved in watching that
delightful bottom. He stood up abruptly, spilling her off his lap
and into a crumpled heap at his feet, saying, �śGet your clothes
off. You’re sleeping in bed with me tonight.”

Mary Rose got up slowly, automatically pulling up her undies, despite
his words. Even though she had just agreed to obey him, she was
in no hurry to comply with that particular order. She didn’t want
to be naked in front of him. She didn’t want him naked – or nearly
naked, as he was – in front of her. He scared her. The though struck
her that she would have been scared of him – well, highly wary,
at least – even if they’d been introduced by her parents in the
front parlor of her home in Virginia. He struck her as the type
of man who would never allow himself to be manipulated as she and
Uncle Shep had done to her other suitors. If he had agreed to have
dinner with her, then he wouldn’t put up with Uncle Shep coming
along, nor would he tolerate any sort of conversational shenanigans.
There would be no turning him away at the door afterwards, either.
This was a man who would not be toyed with. It was in his speech,
his manner, in the very air he breathed.

He would not – could not – be handled. He did the handling.

Still, she wanted to delay the inevitable as long as possible, and,
even though there was only really one button left on the front of
her shirt, she was taking her sweet time undoing it – until he gave
her that same icy stare he’d used on Hernandez. Mary Rose had to
look away – there was too much in that gaze; it was too knowing,
it saw too much.

Like her peaked nipples.

He took his pants and arranged them by the side of the bed that
was closest to the door so as to put himself between her and harm,
putting his gun belt on top of them but removing the gun to place
it on the nightstand where it would be close at hand. Mary Rose
didn’t need to ask if it was loaded. It was. There was no doubt
in her mind.

Rafe relaxed back onto the bed – as much as someone in his position
could relax – his fingers laced behind his head, one eye open to
keep track of his reluctant companion’s progress in divesting herself
of her garments. He had to smirk to himself. If she kept up that
pace, they’d all be dead before he’d seen the barest hint of naked
flesh – and he’d already seen – and touched – a lot more than just
a little of her, and he certainly had liked that. Rafe’d be very
glad to see any and all parts of her that he could.

She was small and rounded – exactly the way he liked his women to
be. She felt wonderfully right beneath him for that short time –
his body and hers just seemed to fit perfectly together. He was
mildly alarmed at how romantic he was sounding. Anything in a skirt
– except, perhaps, for a Scotsman – would have felt terrific beneath
him. This dame was nothing special. She was just close at hand.

She was finally down to just her sleeveless chemise and split-crotch
bloomers, and he found himself wondering which she would remove
first. He lost when she took off the chemise, carefully keeping
herself turned away from him so that he didn’t even get so much
as a glimpse of her breasts. But when those knickers fell to her
ankles, parts of him stood at full attention in salute to what he
could see of the beautiful sweeping line of her back. The rest of
it was covered by a magnificent fall of blonde hair that looked
like a golden river as it spilled to the middle of her back.

By now completely naked, Mary Rose just stood there, her back to
him, as if she was hoping that when she turned around, he’d be gone.
Aching as he was, he could barely scrape out, �śGet over here.”

�śN-no.” Her rebel yell, as rebel yells went, was puny. Barely more
than a mewl.

Rafe’s eyebrow kinked. �śDo you need more of an incentive? Was I
too easy on you just a few minutes ago – �ś

�śNo!” Mary Rose replied hastily. She definitely did not want a second
trip over his lap. She didn’t want to be within two counties of
him, much less have him whacking away on her bottom like he just
had. �śNo,” she repeated, a little more calmly. �śI’m coming.”

Seconds ticked by.

�śWhat’s your name?”

His question made her jump and, of course, forget her name. �śUh
– my name – my name is – �ś

�śIs the question too hard for you?”

Dear God, not only was he humiliating her and terrifying her in
the extreme, he was insulting her, too! �śMary Rose,” she whispered.

�śWell, Mary Rose, I want you to get your luscious little butt over
here, pronto.” She couldn’t see him, because her back was still
to him, but she could hear him patting the bed.

Still, she dared to obey him as slowly as was humanly possible.
He was still debating about whether or not he was going to punish
her for being such a slowpoke when her delightfully dusky bottom
touched the sheets, then she was next to him, on her back, covered
up to her neck by sheets and quilt.

Rafe, who rarely slept with anything over him and had not one modest
bone in his body when it came to nudity, rolled towards her to lie
on his side. She was lying there with her eyes squinched tightly
closed, breathing raggedly and trembling. He had to consciously
stop his hand when it was already halfway to her arm to pat and
stroke it. He wanted to soothe her, even though he had to acknowledge
that there was really no way to do it.

�śDo I need to tie you to the bed, or will you stay here if I fall
asleep?” There really wasn’t an �śif” about it – his eyelids were
already drooping. He had a roof over his head, he was on a comfortable
bed with real linens, and there was a warm soft female body next
to him.

Mary Rose’s eyes snapped open at his words. �śI’ll stay here.”

Rafe looked into her eyes for a long moment. They were clear, but
troubled. �śYou’d better. There’s nothing Hernandez and Toze would
like better than to snag a little morsel like you.”

�śI won’t go anywhere.”

�śIs there anything else in this room that could be used as a weapon?”
he asked, wondering if she would really tell him the truth.

She looked like she was really thinking about her answer. �śI don’t
believe so, but nearly anything could be used as a weapon, if need
be, c-couldn’t it?”

Rafe nodded slowly. �śHow did you come to be out here all alone,
the two of you?” he asked, already knowing most of her answer from
having cased the joint before they raided it.

�śStu – the – the bartender didn’t come to work. I should have just
closed down for the night, but I didn’t want to turn away any potential
business.” Her voice was breaking; she was seconds from tears and
hating herself for showing that weakness to this man. �śI – I should
h-have just closed up.”

God, he hated a woman’s tears! At one time, it was the surest thing
to reduce him to a bleeding idiot trying to rectify whatever it
was that was making her cry. But not any more. She could cry all
she wanted to and it wouldn’t make a whit of difference to him.
He was surprised that she hadn’t had a hysterical fit by now. Most
women would have.

Instead, he saw her do what she’d done before: she cleared her throat
and marshaled her feelings after only a few seconds of tears. His
admiration for her grew by leaps and bounds. �śWhere’s the owner
of this establishment? In town? He should be shot for leaving you
two out here unprotected.”

�śI’m the owner of this establishment.”

Rafe snorted, causing her to open her eyes only long enough to glare
at him balefully. �śYou? Run a saloon and inn? By yourself?”

�śYes,” Mary Rose answered with as much dignity as she could muster
in the face of his obvious amusement.

�śYou’re too young. You should still be living with your parents
– or married with a passel of kids clamoring around your skirts
to keep you busy and out of your husband’s hair.”

�śFor your information, women can do anything that a man can do.
And in most cases, they do it better.”

Well, she was spouting absolutely preposterous folderol, but at
least she wasn’t trembling any more. �śWhy aren’t you married?”

That got her dander up. �śBecause I don’t need to be. I own the saloon
and the inn. I’m the proprietor, like it says on the sign: M.R.
Caldwell.”

He had read it wrong, thinking it said �śMr. Caldwell.” She was gutsy,
he had to give her that, trying to make a go of it in a boomtown,
all by herself. A thought struck him. �śDo you parents know you’re
out here?”

She huffed. �śYes, of course they do.” She didn’t need to tell him
any more than that – that her father had sent a letter demanding
that she return to Virginia immediately once he’d been notified
of Shep’s death, and that she had stayed in direct defiance of him,
because she wanted to make her own way in the world.

His hand reached out to stroke a wisp of hair off her forehead,
and he was half asleep as he murmured, �śI bet you were a handful
as a little girl.”

The next thing Mary Rose heard was a very loud snore, aimed directly
at her left ear. At this rate, she was going to be stone deaf by
morning. She twisted her hips, turning away from him, and he snapped
awake, one arm snaking around her waist to pull her back against
him. �śYou’re not going anywhere, Miss Mary Rose.”

�śBut I wasn’t trying – �ś

�śShhh. Go to sleep.”

And, just like that, she did, as if she was safe in her own bed.


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